From understated alpines to the frothy blooms of lilac and azaleas, Tom’s selection reflects the huge range of late-spring plants available to us. Angelica is the icing on the cake
SYRINGA VULGARIS ‘WILLIAM ROBINSON’
Height and spread 4m x 3m (size can be controlled by pruning).
Origin Bred by Victor Lemoine in 1899, Nancy, France.
Conditions Happy on most soils and will thrive on chalk; flowers best in full sun but tolerates light shade.
Hardiness RHS H6, USDA 5a-8b† .
Season of interest May.
The common lilac, S. vulgaris, is native in mountainous regions of Eastern Europe. It is a variable species that was highly hybridised in the 19th century, resulting in more than 500 named cultivars. ‘William Robinson’, named after the garden writer who created the gardens at Gravetye Manor, has large panicles of double, pinkish-lilac flowers and exceptional scent. Prune straight after flowering by removing flowered wood.
ANGELICA ARCHANGELICA
Height and spread 2.5m x 1.5m.
Origin Northern Europe.
Conditions Grows well in all garden soils; full to part shade.
Hardiness RHS H6, USDA 5a-7b.
Season of interest May to June.
A statuesque biennial that will self-seed freely through the borders. The first year it makes a handsome foliage plant with its giant, parsley-shaped leaves. These are easily transplanted in the autumn to flower in the right spot the following spring. Its height is very useful in the flower garden at this time of year, and its big, green, pompom flowers contrast well with the vertical accents of lupins. We remove ours as soon as they’ve seeded, so the gap can be filled with late-season interest. The fresh, young leaves can be used in salads, and in the past stems were often crystallised for cake decorations.
PSEUDO FUMARIA ALBA SUBSP. ACAULIS
Height and spread 30cm x 30cm.
Origin Southeast Europe.
Conditions Well-drained soil; full sun to deep shade.
Hardiness RHS H5, USDA 5a-7b.
Season of interest May to November.
Also known as pale corydalis, this is a useful and pretty evergreen perennial. It was first given to me by a friend who has created and cared for countless London gardens where London plane trees can often create dry shade – a condition for which this plant is excellent. We have a large clump thriving and colonising under an ancient yew. In spring it bears dense clusters of white f lowers, tipped with bright yellow. These look good over a long season and brighten up the darkest corner of the garden, especially with their pale-green, year-round foliage.
ERINUS ALPINUS
Height and spread 5cm x 10cm.
Origin Southern Europe.
Conditions Free-draining soil; full sun, in cracks of walls and alpine troughs.
Hardiness RHS H6.
Season of interest April to May.
Commonly known as the fairy foxglove, this is a beautiful little plant that we have managed to establish in the cracks of some dry-stone walls. Small rosettes of tiny leaves with short, leafy stems bear clusters of pretty, little, purplish-blue flowers throughout spring. We started ours from seed, which were grown on in plugs before being squeezed into the wall cracks. Not only have they established in such harsh conditions, they also appear to be seeding and spreading themselves about. With any luck, they will eventually cover the entire wall. AGM*.
CAMASSIA LEICHTLINII SUBSP. SUKSDORFII CAERULEA GROUP
Height and spread 1-1.5m x 30cm.
Origin British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California and parts of Nevada.
Conditions Prefers moist soil; full sun to part shade.
Hardiness RHS H4, USDA 5a-9b.
Season of interest April to May.
A genus of bulbous plants from the asparagus family, comprising five species from North America and one from South America. In the Pacific North West they were an important food for native Americans; the bulbs having a sweet taste when roasted. This camassia has beautiful, star-shaped, dark-blue flowers on tall stems and is one of the earliest to flower. It works well among shrubs and in borders but is best in meadows. In the orchard it times perfectly with the apple blossom.
EUPHORBIA CHARACIAS SUBSP. WULFENII
Height and spread 1.2m x 1.5m.
Origin Eastern Mediterranean (southern France to Anatolia).
Conditions Well-drained soil; full sun.
Hardiness RHS H4, USDA 7a-10b.
Season of interest March to May.
This handsome euphorbia makes a dramatic feature from March until May, with its huge heads of lime-green flowers borne on long, stiff stems and attractive, blue-grey foliage. It is very effective in drifts among the shrubs above our flower garden, creating a wonderful backdrop to spring plantings. Originating from rocky scrub in the Mediterranean, it is very drought tolerant. Flowering stems should be cut back as soon as they have finished, taking exceptional care not to come into contact with the milky, toxic sap, which can cause nasty blisters.
AMSONIA TABERNAEMONTANA VAR. SALICIFOLIA
Height and spread 1m x 1m.
Origin Southeastern USA and northern Mexico.
Conditions Most well-drained garden soils; full sun to part shade.
Hardiness RHS H5, USDA 3a-9b.
Season of interest Flowers May to June; autumn colour in October and November.
This handsome border perennial looks beautiful when its first shoots emerge in late spring, almost like purple asparagus.
These quickly develop into erect, leafy stems with willow-like foliage supporting abundant clusters of star-shaped, sky-blue flowers with white throats. It will flower for five to six weeks and is a good, tidy, fresh-green foliage plant throughout the season before turning golden-yellow in autumn. It also has good winter structure.
RHODODENDRON ‘IRENE KOSTER’
Height and spread 2m x 2.5m.
Origin Bred by Koster and Co in the Netherlands.
Conditions Humus-rich, acidic soil (ideally pH 4.5-6); full sun to part shade.
Hardiness RHS H6, USDA 4a-9b.
Season of interest May to June; good autumn colour in October.
Azaleas are priceless for their colour, fragrance and variety, not to mention the spectacular autumn colour that many display. The hybrid azalea ‘Irene Koster’ is part of the Occidentale group (R. molle x R. occidentale) and has delicate, rose-pink flowers with a small yellow blotch, and exquisite perfume. It makes a beautiful combination underplanted with camassias. Mature specimens should be pruned by removing the oldest wood, to encourage regeneration. AGM.
ENKIANTHUS CAMPANULATUS
Height and spread 3.5m x 3.5m (large specimens can reach 5m).
Origin Japan.
Conditions Acid to neutral soil; sheltered full sun or part shade
Hardiness RHS H5, USDA 4a-7b.
Season of interest May or June.
An upright, deciduous shrub native to woodland in Japan. When in flower it is a beautiful sight as the plant appears to drip with small, nodding, bell-shaped flowers, which are creamy-yellow, with pinkish veining. It will bloom for about three weeks, and is best grown in light shade; we have a lovely specimen under a large handkerchief tree, making a fantastic combination when they are both in full flower. Autumn colour can be variable; good forms have a noteworthy orange or red display. AGM.
LIBERTIA IXIOIDES
Height and spread 1m x 1m.
Origin New Zealand.
Conditions Well-drained soil; sheltered sunny spot.
Hardiness RHS H3, USDA 7a-9b.
Season of interest May to June.
This is a beautiful and architectural evergreen perennial from the Iris family that is native throughout New Zealand. Its ridged flower spikes are elegant in bud, before opening with three-lobed, pure-white flowers. These look especially lovely in the evenings when they float like moths. There are several named cultivars with gold or bronze variegation that are well worth growing. I prefer the normal olive-green, spiky foliage, which can make an attractive clump at the front of the border. Dead brown leaves should be carefully removed at the start of spring.
*Holds an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. †Hardiness ratings given where available.
Places to visit
Tom’s recommendations for places to see seasonal plants at their best
Be sure to check opening times. Some garden visits may need to be pre-booked
Close to the beautiful, rugged Côtes-d’Armor, on Brittany’s northern shore, Kerdalo is a garden that will steal your heart the moment you walk through the gate. The 35 acres of grounds were designed by Prince Peter Wolkonsky in 1965 with Italian and Chinese inspiration. Some wilder parts feel like lush, tropical jungle, thriving in the mild Breton climate, and the garden is packed with stunning specimen plants. After the death of Prince Wolkonsky, the garden was neglected until 1997 when his daughter, Isabelle Vaughan, moved in and revived it. In 2021, she sold the garden to shoe designer Christian Louboutin, who appointed Tangi Rabin as head gardener. Tangi started his career at Kerdalo and was mentored by Isabelle. Now he’s returned, it will be exciting to see how the garden responds. 22220 Trédarzec, Brittany, France. Tel +33 (0)6 84 17 52 26, lesjardinsdekerdalo.com
Brittany has a number of great gardens. On the Jaudy estuary, opposite Kerdalo, is the magical Kestellic. This 20-acre garden is in a steep-sided valley where many of the plantings cling to the slopes and engulf you as you pass through. At the bottom of the valley are lush, jungle-like plantings with excellent Japanese maple specimens, gunneras, rhododendrons and some of the tallest Dicksonia in France. On steeper, south-facing aspects succulents and alpines are used in beautiful plantings. 22220 Plouguiel, Brittany, France. Tel +33 (0)6 60 83 66 05, kestellic.fr
West Sussex is well known for rhododendrons, which flourish on the heavy, acidic soil. There are many collections worth visiting but Leonardslee Gardens has to be the most impressive. Set within 240 acres of steep, wooded valley and lakes, it is packed with thousands of incredible specimens. To witness them in full flower on this scale is breathtaking. Much of the collection was planted in the late 19th and early 20th centuries after Sir Edmund Loder bought the property. He was a passionate plantsman, collecting and breeding for most of his life, most notably producing the rhododendron Loderi Group hybrids. Many of his original specimens still flourish in the garden and some cultivars can still only be found at Leonardslee. After Sir Edmund’s death and the Second World War the garden fell into disrepair until it was reinvigorated by his grandson, Giles, who developed it and opened it to the public. He retired in 1982 and in 2010 the gardens closed after Leonardslee became a private estate. The garden was left to run wild until Penny Streeter bought it in 2017. She’s invested heavily in restoring it and reopening to the public. Brighton Road, Lower Beeding, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 6PP. Tel 0871 873 3389, leonardsleegardens.co.uk
Loder Plants, the nursery in Leonardslee’s old kitchen garden, has been owned by Sir Edmund’s great, great grandson Chris Loder since 1989. It has an excellent collection of camellias, rhododendrons and hydrangeas. The team are very knowledgeable and love sharing their passion for plants. You can order online but it’s always fun to visit and talk to the growers. Market Garden, Lower Beeding, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 6PP. Tel 01403 891412, loder.co.uk
Tom Coward is head gardener at Gravetye Manor in East Sussex gravetyemanor.co.uk